About Last Night made the perfect start to her career at Tauranga where she produced a faultless display to post a debut victory over 950 metres on Saturday.
The Gerry Harvey-bred and sold daughter of Capitalist had been a trial winner at Avondale last month and she had no trouble replicating that form at the first time of asking on race day to book a spot in the Karaka Million 2YO field.
Trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, About Last Night broke quickly to sit outside the leader for rider Warren Kennedy to sit outside the leader.
The filly took control on straightening and she surged clear under hands and heels riding to score with authority and lead home a Westbury Stud dominated finish.
“She did it easily and nothing more than a track gallop,” Kennedy said.
About Last Night was a $75,000 purchase for Te Akau’s David Ellis out of Westbury’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale draft at Karaka earlier this year.
“She trialled up well and she’s very professional,” Walker said.
“With that debut win under her belt, she can have a little holiday now and our main focus will be the Karaka Million in January. She’s got a great turn of foot.”
Runner-up Skymax came on well for second to hand Westbury resident Ferrando his first placegetter while the Harvey-bred and co-owned pair of Elegant Jazz and Ka Pai Kiwi were the next two home.
About Last Night is from a well-performed two-year-old family and is out the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Kissmelikearocksta.
Her dam Love And Kisses was a juvenile winner and placed in the G1 AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes and the G2 Furious Stakes and is a daughter of the G2 Champagne Stakes winner Fair Embrace.
Kissmelikearocksta has a yearling filly by Savabeel and is due to foal this season to Reliable Man.
Ellis was delighted for the ownership group, the Te Akau Girls Who Love To Party 2023 Racing Partnership.
“Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) put a syndicate of together of ladies and I’m thrilled this filly has won first-up for them,” he said.
“Having Fastnet Rock and Encosta de Lago as her first two dam sires is an enormous advantage in any pedigree.
“She’s a filly with plenty of natural substance and we regarded her as a really good value purchase.”